Katlady, everything I read and heard is about Celebrity being a better cruise line. I liked HAL's itinerary better because it has only one tender port and the Hilo hours are 8-5. A midnight sail around the volcano is included on Celebrity's itinerary but HAL sometimes stays overnight in Honolulu, which I would love.

Aerospace, I have to sail out of San Diego because Los Angeles County is unwalkable. If you don't have a driver's liscense, you are not going anywhere in LA. I love San Diego and want to go back there, partly because it seems to be built for cruisers. I don't need a driver's liscense I will never get to do a lot in San Diego before and after the cruise. Of course I also want to take a cruise with more sea days than port days if I am on a ship that is immune to boredom.